Sen. Ted Cruz called for sanctions against Ukrainian officials in an op-ed that argues the world should not be “distracted” from what’s happening in the protest-ravaged nation.

The Texas Republican published an op-ed Wednesday night for the conservative Heritage Foundation’s blog, saying the U.S. should act to defend its interests in the former Soviet nation, where dozens of people reportedly have died in the past few days in violent protests against the Ukranian president.

“A free and prosperous Ukraine is a natural partner for the United States and our European allies,” Cruz wrote. “We should be defending our interests in Ukraine both by quickly imposing economic sanctions against the government officials responsible for human rights abuses and by offering mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the event that real democratic reforms are implemented.”

President Barack Obama on Wednesday also condemned the violence in Ukraine and spoke of “consequences” from the international community if officials “step over the line.” Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also called for sanctions against Ukraine’s government on Wednesday.